POLICE arrested a 44-year-old alleged drug user who attempted to jump off the first Mandaue-Mactan bridge with the four-year-old daughter of his live-in partner on Sunday dawn, May 14.
Chief Inspector Wilbert Parilla, Mandaue City Police Station 5 chief, identified the suspect as Jason Cuizon, who was reportedly high on drugs when he went with his daughter to the bridge past 12 a.m.
“Nasobraan siya sa kasabog. Naa daw naggukod niya nga gusto mopatay (He was too high on drugs. He said somebody was after him and wanted to kill him),” said Parilla in a phone interview.
Cuizon wanted to jump to the sea with his daughter, shouting he wanted to protect her from his non-existent killers.
A resident near the bridge saw the suspect and he went up to confront the latter. He grabbed the girl from the suspect, who later jumped to the sea.
Cuizon did not drown. Police rushed to the area after they were informed about the incident.
Operatives boarded on a wooden banca, sailed, and got Cuizon from the water past 4 a.m.
They brought him to the psychiatric ward of Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City, where he was given a sedative.
The girl's mother decided not to file complaints against the suspect for attempted homicide and violation of Republic Act 7610, or the Special Protection of Children against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act.
Parilla, however, said they will charge Cuizon for alarm and scandal. (SunStar Cebu)